Abu Dhabi Doo!

YES!  I am now officially on the countdown to fly to UAE.  I was notified today that I will fly out of Atlanta on September 1st.  I'll have a layover at JFK for about 5 hours (guess I won't have trouble making that connecting flight!) and then a 13-hour flight to Abu Dhabi.  That means I'll be arriving in Abu Dhabi about 7:30 on Thursday night, after leaving Atlanta at 3:00 on Wednesday!  It's going to be a GREAT day!!

I had been worried because Heather got her ticket last Thursday, but I didn't hear anything.  I feared that I would be arriving too late to do my OCD preparation for school to begin.  Ha-ha!  This means I will have 2 solid weeks to get settled, have orientation, and prepare for the first day.....Just right!!

Because my flight was booked at the last minute, it appears the flight may have been full except for a couple of business class seats left.....Even better!!!  I'm now in aisle 2 on the window.   This also means I'm not limited to the luggage requirements on most flights.  I get 3 bags at 70 pounds each.....Ah, life is good!  Sorry, Heather!!  Don't pack too much!    :)

Since Heather and I are flying out of Atlanta about 10 minutes apart, that means Cory and Kim get to take us to the airport and have a farewell lunch.  That makes it so much more special!  What are they going to do without us until it's their time to fly out???  Georgia Bulldawgs -- that's what!!

I can't wait to see the beautiful sights that await me and to meet the new LT's (Licensed Teachers) that I'll be working and living with.  I'm full of anticipation about meeting my new students also!  Time now to go to sleep...perchance to dream.....

Crossroads.....

When I selected the name of this blog, I was imagining the crossroads of our lives as my husband and I decide which path to follow now.  We stayed on the same worn path for so many years that we grew accustomed to not having to think about making any turns.  We have been married for 34 years and lived in the same house and town for the last 33 of those.  We raised our children in this house and have lived near our extended family our whole lives.  Life was good as we had both sets of grandparents close by and had the security of raising our children in a small town.  As both children are now grown and on their own, the time came that we needed something fresh.  This move to Abu Dhabi should do the trick ~ ha-ha!!

When looking for a graphic to represent the concept of "crossroads," I came to realize how many different interpretations there are for that word.  I like the idea of multiplicities of theme, and I will come back to that on later blog posts.

Changes Ahead!

Wow! What a difference a year makes. This time last year I was busy planning for my new class of 5th graders! This year I am planning on moving half way around the world......That's right! I'm moving to the United Arab Emirates to teach English, math, and science.  Here's a map of where I will be heading. I will fly into Abu Dhabi (on the Persian Gulf coast) in August. Notice that this country (UAE) is bordered by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman. I will keep you posted as I know more information!

August 2:

I just had an update yesterday that the first group of teachers will be heading over in about a week. I haven't been told which "group" I'm in, so I am not sure if I will be leaving then or later.

The UAE is a union of 7 emirates (rather like the U.S. is a union of 50 states). Abu Dhabi is the emirate where I'll be teaching. Within this emirate are several major cities, including Abu Dhabi City and Al Ain. Abu Dhabi City is on the Persian Gulf coast. Al Ain is an oasis in the mountain region and is on the Oman border. I have requested to be in Al Ain for several reasons, but we are told we won't know which city we've been assigned until we arrive. The same is true of the grade level I will teach. I have been told 3rd grade, but that won't be final until I am actually in the school!! Here is a photo of the mountain region.

August 4: 
Today I came back out to the school to be a "parapro" for my former colleagues. It was refreshing not to have the stress that goes along with getting the classroom ready for new students. I just did odd jobs, whatever needed doing! I also got to greet the 5th graders as they came into the hall to meet their new teachers. They were so excited about starting their final year in elementary school. It was great to enjoy their enthusiasm!


I am already thinking about my new classroom and what I'll need to prepare for that, but since I don't know the grade level or subject matter content, there's not a lot I can do yet! We still don't have a departure date, so my husband and I are working on getting the house packed up and ready to sell!!

Preparing to Leave.....

Kim and I have been working diligently to get our house ready to leave the country.  After living 33 years in one spot, it has been quite a challenge deciding what to save, what to discard, and what to take with us.